Nestable berry tray



July 7, 1959 D. P. HARNISH and. 2,393,621 R NESTABLE BERRY TRAY Filed May 25, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 y W'nmawzy y 1959 Y D. P. HARNISH EI'AL 2,893,621

' NESTABLE BERRY TRAY Filed May 25, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 29 FIGI FIGJZ.

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NESTABLE BERRY TRAY .3 Sheets-Sheet 3 y W WWW/FIVE) United States Patent NESTABLE BERRY TRAY Don P. Hamish, Orinda, Calif., and Robert W. Brnkartlt, St. Louis, Mo, assignors, by mesne assignments, to Crown Zellerhach Corporation, San Francisco, alif., a corporation of Nevada Application May 25, 1955, Serial No. 511,006 6 Claims. c1. 229 -34 The invention relates to fibreboard trays adapted for vertical stacking for shipping and storing berries, other fresh fruits and other articles.

More specifically, the tray is formed from a one-piece blank and may be readily assembled Without the use of staples, glue, tape or other securing means. The tray comprises a bottom panel with integral, up-standing side walls having upper marginal flaps folded flatwise against the inner face of the walls. The side walls also have integral end flaps folded right angularly inwardly. Each end of the bottom panel has an integral extension scored and slotted to define a plurality of transverse sections foldable in flatwise relation to each other, enclosing the end flaps of the side walls and forming a multi-ply loadcarrying end wall preferably of greater height than the side walls. A portion of the fold of the inner plies of the end wall forms a tongue projecting above the top edge of the wall. An aligned mating recess is formed in the lower margin of the end wall and an aligned slot in the end margin of the bottom panel to receive the tongue of a subjacent tray. Thus, a plurality of trays may be safely stacked vertically in locked relation, secure against horizontal shifting in any direction by the interlocking engagement of the tongues of the end walls of each tray with the boundries of the mating recesses in the end walls of the superposed trays.

An object of the invention is to provide a one-piece tray of high stacking strength for packaging berries and other perishable products, the tray comprising a bottom panel, side walls and reinforced end walls, the end walls having an upwardly projecting tongue adapted to extend through a slot in the bottom of a superposed tray into a complementary recess in the end wall and lock the trays in vertical stacks against horizontal displacement.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a sturdy tray for packing a plurality of small baskets of berries or other perishable products, the end wall of the tray being of greater height than the side walls and provided with a locking tongue formed of a folded portion of the inner plies of the end walls extending above the top edges thereof and adapted to extend through a mating slot in the bottom panel of a superposed tray into a recess in the lower margin of the end wall, whereby a plurality of trays may be vertically stacked in interlocked relation, secure against horizontal displacement in any direction.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon a full and complete understanding of the construction and operation of the tray.

The invention also consists in the parts and arrangements and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed. The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and like numerals and symbols therein appearing refer to like parts wherever they occur.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the blank from which a preferred form of the tray is assembled;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the blank with one side 2,893,621 Patented July 7, 1959 wall and flap assembled and the extension of the bottom panel form the end wall partially folded;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the blank with the end extensions of the bottom panel in a further stage of assembly;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the partially folded end extension illustrated in Fig. 3, taken in the direction of the arrows 44;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the container with the side walls completely assembled and the end walls in a still further stage of assembly;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the tray with the side walls and one end wall completely assembled and the other end wall in the last stage of folding;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of two of the completely assembled trays in vertically stacked relation;

Fig. 8 is a vertical, sectional view of the trays shown in Fig. 7, taken in the direction of arrows 88;

Fig. 9 is a vertical, sectional View of the trays shown in Fig. 8, taken in the direction of the arrows 9-9;

Fig. 10 is a vertical, sectional view of the trays shown in Fig. 8, taken in the direction of the arrows 1010;

Fig. 11 is a horizontal, sectional view of the trays shown in Pig. 8, taken in the direction of the arrows 11-11;

Fig. 12 is a horizontal, sectional view of the trays shown in Fig. 8, taken in the direction of the arrows 12-12;

Fig. 13 is a plan view of a modified form of the blank for forming a tray;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a portion of the tray showing the end wall assembly; and

Fig. 15 is a vertical, sectional view of the end wall shown in Fig. .14, taken in the direction of the arrows 15-15.

The blank from which the tray is assembled is shown at A in Fig. 1. The bottom panel 20 is defined by longitudinal scores 21 and transverse scores 22. The upper edge of the side walls 23, which are hinged about score 21, are defined by longitudinal scores 24, while upper marginal flaps 25 are integral with side walls 23 and foldable about the scores 24. The side walls have end flanges 26 foldable about transverse scores 22. Slits 27 are provided in the end margins of the bottom panel 20 adjacent, as shown, to the transverse scores 22 and cut-outs 28 are formed in the side edges of flaps 25 for a purpose to be described later. Ventilating openings 29 are provided in the bottom panel 20 and side panels 23. Integrally hinged by transverse scores 22 to the bottom panel 20 are end wall forming extensions 30, divided into sections 31, 32, 33 and 34- by transverse double scores 35, 36 and standard scores 37. Longitudinal slots 38 separate the side edge of flanges 26 from the sides of the extensions 30. An elongated slot 39 is cut in the outer margins of bottom panel 20 at the mid-length of the transverse scores 22 and a similarly shaped slot 40 is located midway the length of double score 35. A similar, but somewhat wider, slot 41 is cut midway the length of double scores 36. Slits 42 are cut in the outer margin of section 32, forming locking ears 43. The side edges of section 32 have elongated cut-outs 44 and locking ears 44a extending inwardly from the double score 36. Slots 45, centered on scores 37, extend from the side edges of sections 33 and 34 inwardly a distance, for example, comparable to the width of the section 33, so that the hinge line 37 is substantially equal to the length of the slots 39, 40 and 41. A cut-out 46 is provided on the other side edges of section 34 and a cut-out 47 of substantially the same length as the slots 39, 40 and 41 and aligned therewith is formed in the outer margin of section 34.

A convenient method of assembling the described, preferred form of the tray is to fold the side walls 23 upwardly in perpendicular relation to the bottom panel 20 p and thelupper marginal flaps 25 inwardly and down- .3 wardly flatwise against the inner face of the side walls 23. The end flanges 26 are folded inwardly in right angular relation to the side walls 23 and the bottom panel 20. The end extensions 30 of the bottom panel are next folded into end wall formation by first folding section 34 inwardly about score 37 into flatwise relation to section 33, asshown in Fig. 2. In this folded relation, the shoulders 48 of sections 33 and 34, extending between the opposed bottom boundaries of slots 45, form a folded two-ply locking tongue 49 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The double fold comprising sections 33 and 34 is next folded flatwise over section 32 as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. At this stage of the assembly of theend wall, the tongue 49 is positioned adjacent the slot 40, through which it eventually passes, and the locking ears 43 extending upwardly as shown in Fig. .5. The 3-ply fold, composed of sections 32, 33 and 34, is-now folded inwardly and downwardly over the-side wall flaps 26 in parallel relation to the outer section31. As this fold proceeds, the tongue 49 passes through the slot 40 and extends vertically upwardly in a plane parallel to and between the planes of sections 31 and 32. The locking cars 43 now extend downwardly through the slots 27 securely locking section 33 in perpendicular relation to the bottom panel 20. In this vertically assembled position, the locking ears 44a, formed on the outer edges of section 32 are interlocked with the cut-outs '28 formed in the downwardly and inwardly folded upper marginal flaps 25. One end of the perspective view-of the tray of Fig. 6 shows the described final fold of the panels in progress, while the other end illustrates the end panel in final position.

In the described final fold of the end extensions 30, a recess is formed in the end walls in vertical alignment with the slots 39 in the bottom panel for receiving the locking tongue 49 of a subjacent tray. This recess results from the position of the cut-out 47 and the slot 41 formed in section 33 in the fully assembled position wherein the inner boundary of cut-out 47 and the outer boundeity of slot 41 are in substantially horizontal alignment between end panel sections 31 and 32. When the trays are vertically stacked as illustrated in Fig. 7, the tongues 49 are enclosed by the boundaries of the described recess between the end panel sections 31 and 32, interlocking the superposed tray against horizontal displacement in any direction.

A modified form of the end wall forming extension 30 is shown in Fig. 13 wherein the flange 50, foldable about the transverse score 37, is substituted for the section 34 shown in Fig. 1. In this form of the invention, the end wall may be assembled exactly as heretofore described, the flange Stl being positioned between sections 32 and 33 as illustrated in Figs. 14 and 15. This modification results in a saving in board and provides satisfactory rigidity and stacking strength in the end walls.

If desired, the flaps 26, which lock the sideand end walls in right angular relation, may be formed integrally with the side edges of section 31 instead of with side edges of side walls 23 and folded inwardly between the side walls 23 and flaps 25 in the assembled tray.

Two or more of the trays may be secured together in vertical nested relation by means of a bendable metal strip positioned between the outer and intermediate plies of the end walls of each tray and binding the ends of the strip into locking position in appropriately positioned slots in the top and bottom trays of the stack.

The multi-ply end walls of the tray are exceedingly rigid and capable of supporting to or more vertically stacked loaded trays without distortion or crushing. The ventilation space between the bottom panel of each tray and the top of the side walls of the subjacent tray is clearly shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The interlocking of the tongue 49 into the recess of a superposed tray is indicated in detail in the vertical, sectional view of Fig. 9. The vertical, sectional view of one corner of the tray is shown iin Fig. 10, while Figs. 11 and 12 are plan views of a corner of the tray taken at different levels.

The tray of the invention possesses many advantages among them being the ease of assembly without the use of staples, glue or other securing means, the ample ventilation of the loaded trays when arranged in vertical stacks and the stability of vertical stacks of the loaded trays.

It is to be understood that the embodiments herein described are illustrative and not restrictive, and it is also to be understood that the invention may be susceptible of embodiment in other modified forms, and that all such modifications which are similar or equivalent hereto come equally within the scope of the claims next appearing.

What we claim is: I

1. In a one-piece nestable tray having a bottom panel and an opposed pair of side walls with upper marginal flaps reversely folded inwardly in flatwise relation to the inner face of the side walls; integral end extensions of the bottom panel folded to form rigid multi-ply end walls connected in right angular relation to the side walls, the end extensions of the bottom panel being transversely scored to form an inner wall forming section integrally connected to the end of the bottom panel, second and third sections connected to each other and to the first section, an elongated slot in the end margin of the bottom panel positioned substantially midway between the side edges thereof, elongated slots between the first and second panels and the second and third panels in alignment with the slot in the end margin of the bottom panel and a flap on the outer edge of the third section in alignment with the said slots reversely foldable about a score intermediate its length, in the fully assembled position of the end extension of the bottom panel, the first-mentioned section forming the outer ply of the end wall, the second section forming the inner ply, the third section forming an intermediate ply, the flap attached to the outer edge of the third ply forming a portion of a second intermediateply positioned between the inner and outer plies of the end wall, the reversely folded portion of the flap forming a locking tongue extending upwardly above the top edge of the end walls through the slot between the first and second sections, the slot between the second and third sections forming a recess positioned in the lower margin of the end wall in vertical alignment with the slot in the end margin of the bottom section, the locking tongue of the end wall of one tray extending through the slot in the margin of the bottom panel into the recess in the lower margin of the end wall of a superimposed tray when a plurality of the said trays are vertically stacked.

2. In a one-piece nestable tray having a bottom panel and an opposed pair of side walls with upper marginal flaps reversely folded inwardly in flatwise relation to the inner face of the side walls; an opposed pair of end walls of greater height than the side wallsformed of integral extensions of the bottom panel transversely scored to define a series of wall forming sections folded in vertical juxtaposed relation, a first section of said extension being joined to the end edge of the bottom panel and forming the outer ply of the end wall, the second section forming the inner ply of the end wall, a third section forming one intermediate ply and a fourth section forming a second intermediate ply, the third and fourth sections being connected together by a tongue forming strip intermediate their width, the strip being reversely folded and forming a two-ply tongue, an elongated slot positioned intermediate the side edges of the second and third sections of the bottom panel extensions, the inner boundary of the slot coinciding with the transverse score forming the hinge about which the third section is folded flatwise against the second section, which slot forms a recess in the lower margin of the inner plies of the end wall complementary in shape to the locking tongue projecting above the top edge of the end wall, and wherein a similar elongated slot is positioned across the hinge line between the first and second end wall forming sections, the slot being in alignment with the first-mentioned slot and forming an opening in the folded upper edge of the inner and outer plies of the end wall through which the locking tongue projects in the fully assembled position of the end wall.

3. The combination set forth and claimed in claim 2 wherein U-shaped slits are formed along a double score forming the hinge line between the second and third sections, the slits being located intermediate the side edges of the wall forming sections and the elongated slot therebetween, in the folded position of the wall forming sections, the U-shaped slits forming downwardly projecting tabs which are enclosed by aligned complementary slots in the end margin of the bottom panel, securing the end Wall, in its fully assembled form, in right angular relation to the bottom panel.

4. In a unitary stacking tray having a bottom panel and an opposed pair of side walls and an opposed pair of rigid end walls fixed in right angular relation to the pair of opposed side walls, the end walls comprising folded, juxtaposed inner, outer and intermediate plies formed of a series of integral end extensions of the bottom panel, each end wall having, in vertical alignment, a locking tongue extending from said intermediate end wall plies upwardly intermediate the inner and outer end wall plies and extending above the end wall, and a complementary recess disposed intermediate the inner and outer end wall plies positioned in the lower margin of the end wall and an elongated slot in the end margin of the bottom panel adjacent the complementary recess, the end wall tongue of the end tray adapted to extend through the bottom panel slot into the end wall complementary recess of a superimposed tray when a plurality of the trays are vertically stacked, the end extensions of the bottom panel being scored transversely to define at least three foldably connected sections, the first section being integrally joined to the end edge of the bottom panel and forming the outer ply of the end wall, the second section forming the inner ply of the end wall and the third end section forming the intermediate end wall ply and having an extension on its free outer edge, an elongated slot positioned across the hinge line between the first and second sections, said extension projecting upwardly through said slot and terminating above the level of said end wall.

5. The invention set forth in claim 4- wherein the extension on said third section is provided with a flap along its free outer margin edge which is disposed inwardly and downwardly in flatwise reinforcing relation against said extension.

6. The invention set forth in claim 4 wherein a fourth section is foldably connected to the series of bottom panel end sections, the fourth section being foldably connected to the outer margin of the extension of the third section and disposed in flatwise relation to said third section to provide a double thickness tongue extending above the top edge of the said walls and a two ply reinforced intermediate end wall ply.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 748,376 Hirsch Dec. 29, 1903 1,225,705 Dyson May 8, 1917 1,826,197 Adams Oct. 6, 1931 2,232,632 Reynolds Feb. 18, 1941 2,322,239 Kramer June 22, 1943 2,707,587 Wittstein May 3, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 479,265 Italy Mar. 21, 1953 

